2014-06-26

Almost Home!

10, 9, 8, 7..... We have reached the final 10 days of my time in Taiwan (or as I like to call it.... Vacation Time because 10 days is about the length of time you might take on a vacation to a far away foreign country). The crazy amount of packing has begun, and I honestly don't even know how I fit everything I brought in my 2 suitcases here originally.

As I was cleaning out my drawers, I found a list.  One of our original presenters back in August recommended to us to write down a list of our goals for the year.  Then to put that list up somewhere where we would see it every day.  As he put it, for many of us, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you don't want to hit the end of the year, look back, and realize you hadn't accomplished what you had meant to during your time here.  Well... I made a list... and forgot to put it up... but much to my surprise, I accomplished everything on that list! *cue round of applause* And here it is...

7 Goals for My Journey in Taiwan
1. Improve Chinese language skills, especially speaking and vocabulary (vocabulary has DEFINITELY improved. Speaking... if anything, I'm much more comfortable with speaking now than I ever was. Skill though... that depends on who you're asking haha)
2. Make an impact on at least 1 student's English learning experience and inspire them to become as interested in learning English as I am in learning Chinese (well... that last part remains to be seen, but I definitely do think I made an impact on some children's lives... I'll save those stories for the end of the post though).
3. Determine whether or not Asia/Taiwan is a place I could move to and live if my job required it (is this even a type of job I would want to seek out.
4. Travel around Taiwan and especially take advantage of the natural, cool resources here (coral reefs, hot springs, waterfalls, etc)
5. Make at least 1 Taiwanese friend (I've made many, and at least a few that I KNOW we will keep in touch and maybe try and visit each other if we can).
6. Learn about traditional Chinese medicine (I had a few encounters with it and if anything, when you get sick here, everyone has "traditional Chinese medicine" advice for what to do.... and it most summarizes to "Drink warm water, don't drink ice water").
7. Live the Asian lifestyle (as in eat local, try and adopt some customs, practice their customs for certain social situations, embrace the fashion, etc)

I guess I can go home knowing I did what I set out to do here... no regrets!

Remembering what it was like when I first got here... I feel like a completely different person and way more mature in ways I didn't even realize I needed to mature in. My best 2 examples... Patience and generosity. Being a teacher has made me more patient, and Taiwan has made me realize how much we have to offer others while still having more than enough for ourselves.

It's moments like these where I just have to ask, "How did this store name get selected and where was their designated "foreigner friend" when this was happening?"
I'm going to miss Taiwan very much, but at the same time I'm very ready to come home. Since this is probably my last post (I might do one after I get back if I see enough cultural differences that would warrent an interesting post, but we'll see), there are several people I would like to thank (in no particular order)....

1. God... You blessed me with an amazing journey and kept me safe throughout. Thank you. 
2. The Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs at USC (especially the woman who first suggested applying for the Fulbright)... I would never have had a competitive enough application without all your guidance. 
3. Fulbright... For selecting me. And helping me to move to Taichung as smoothly as possible. And making me into something of a workable teacher before the first day of school. 
4. My Taichung coordinator... You were our rock and guide when we first arrived, and now I'm so happy to call you my friend. I will miss you so much. Thank you for everything you've done for us. 
5. All the administrators at my school... Thank you for putting up with my poor Chinese level and for being so kind to me. My job was made much easier because of you. 
6. All my new friends both American and Taiwanese that I have met on this journey.... You guys are awesome, and I'm sorry we didn't meet sooner. I hope if our paths cross again in the future we can get together and create some new awesome memories. 
7. To anyone who has sent me a card or a present from the States... Thank you for remembering me half a world away. It made the holidays and the homesickness a little easier. 
8.  My co-teachers... Thank you for believing in me and setting such a great teaching example for me to learn from. I will never forget you and always think of you when my future children start school. 
9. My best friend and fellow Asian culture fanatic (you know who you are)... Thank you for introducing me to the more interesting depths and pop culture of Taiwan and Korea. This hobby you got me into inspired me to take this step, so if anything.... I'm mainly here because of you. 
10. And lastly... My parents. Who I was coming into this was a result of who you helped shape me to be. I hope the person coming home will continue to make you proud. I miss you guys so much.  Thank you for always being there for me this year and understanding this adventure I have been wanting to take for years now. I've said it a million times, but it doesn't make it any less true... I don't know where I would be without you. And I love you both so much. 

Taiwan countryside at dusk taken from moving train headed to Kenting

Last but not least... STORY TIME
A few cute stories have happened this week....

I got a card from a student. Now this young student (who is a girl) isn't good at English nor does she care for English.  She is a little noisy, but I think she just thinks she's really funny (and actually she kinda is), but she just hasn't learned yet about "timing" and "is this an appropriate time now to make a joke?"  But she's super cute and gives me a hug every time she sees me.  Anyway, the card... She wrote (in Chinese), "Teacher Amanda, thank you for treating me so well. When I grow up, I will always remember you."  *cue tears of happiness*

Recently I picked up on something that is making it hard to leave.  I have quite a few students that struggle with English, but honestly it's mostly because they just don't care about it so they don't try nor do they want to.  But they still talk to me in Chinese, and I say what I can.  And they will occasionally show me things and tell me about the cool stuff they did over the weekend.  Well... the other day, one kid asked me for a pencil sharper, so I handed it to him, and he said "Thank you." Perfect English. Now, a lot of Taiwanese can at least say "Hello", "Thank you", and "how are you?" pretty flawlessly, but the fact that it was the first time I had heard him willing use English just about made me fall out of my chair.  And then the next week, he gave me something, I said (in English) "Thank you," and he said "You're welcome." Perfect English.  If it took him almost 9 months to warm up to me enough to start using these phrases, imagine what could happen if I stayed another year? or another?  Sometimes I wonder if it's a matter of kids connecting with something about a subject whether it be a topic, song, movie, or person that makes them want to learn that subject... and now he has to get used to a new foreign teacher next year.  And it's moments like that that is gonna make me cry all day on Monday (my last day at school).

Finally, on a happy note, look what my amazing 4th Graders made me :)

I think they got the cartoon version of me perfectly. What do you think?